hausted. My
spirit is willing, my head is clear, but this demon, the gout, o'ercrows
me. I confess, if the court would do justice to my claims and give the
head of my house the title of prince, and if my brother De Turenne were
reinstated in his command I would return to my estates and leave the
court and parliament to settle things between themselves as they might."

"You are perfectly right, my lord."

"You think so? At this very moment the court is making overtures to me;
hitherto I have repulsed them; but since such men as you assure me that
I am wrong in doing so, I've a good mind to follow your advice and to
accept a proposition made to me by the Duc de Chatillon just now."

"Accept it, my lord, accept it," said Aramis.

"Faith! yes. I am even sorry that this evening I almost repulsed--but
there will be a conference to-morrow and we shall see."

The two friends saluted the duke.

"Go, gentlemen," he said; "you must be much fatigued after your voyage.
Poor King Charles! But, after all, he was somewhat to blame in all that
business and we may console ourselves with the reflection that France
has no cause of reproach in the matter and did all she could to serve
him."

"Oh! as to that," said Aramis, "we are witnesses. Mazarin
especially----"

"Yes, do you know, I am very glad to hear you give that testimony; the
cardinal has some good in him, and if he were not a foreigner--well, he
would be more justly estimated. Oh! the devil take this gout!"

Athos and Aramis took their leave, but even in the ante-chamber they
could still hear the duke's cries; he was evidently suffering the
tortures of the damned.

When they reached the street, Aramis said:

"Well, Athos, what do you think?"

"Of whom?"

"Pardieu! of Monsieur de Bouillon."

"My friend, I think that he is much troubled with gout."

"You noticed that I didn't breathe a word as to the purpose of our
visit?"

"You did well; you would have caused him an access of his disease. Let
us go to Monsieur de Beaufort."

The two friends went to the Hotel de Vendome. It was ten o'clock when
they arrived. The Hotel de Vendome was not less guarded than the
Hotel de Bouillon, and presented as warlike an appearance. There were
sentinels, a guard in the court, stacks of arms, and horses saddled.
Two horsemen going out as Athos and Aramis entered were obliged to give
place to them.

"Ah! ah! gentlemen," said Aramis, "decidedly it is a night for meetings.
We sh